Hinduism is about catholicity and reforms, not just discrimination. Hindutva, in contrast, is a homogenising force | The Indian Express

Hinduism is about catholicity and reforms, not just discrimination. Hindutva, in contrast, is a homogenising force | The Indian Express

Written by D. Raja |Updated: May 17, 2019 10:19:34 am

The writer is national secretary, CPI, and Rajya Sabha MP.

Hinduism is about catholicity and reforms, not just discrimination. Hindutva, in contrast, is a homogenising force

The debates around hard-Hindutva and soft-Hindutva are seriously tampering with the secular character of our elections and democracy. The RSS and the ruling regime wants to create a new normal — one in which being Hindu is considered a must for representing the population. This agenda should be resisted at all costs.

The assassination of the Mahatma is a manifestation of the Hindu right’s inability to tolerate a diversity of viewpoints.

The protection accorded in the Constitution to people of all faiths embodies an idea of India that represents plurality and tolerance. Attempts are, however, on to give the country a homogenous identity. The strategy to achieve this objective is two-fold. One, forging a monolithic identity for the Hindus that overlooks the diversities among them. Two, subsuming all other religious and cultural minorities under the Hindu fold — this objective manifests itself when leaders of Hindutva, particularly those from the RSS, claim that everyone born in India is a Hindu.